[Legacy Of The Force] - 07(14)

Luke stared at her for a long moment. “At Jacen’s order.”

“Yes.”

Luke looked away from her as his emotions threatened to spin out of control. Ben’s account of his solo mission had never included a confirmation that Jacen had sent him. Ben had never volunteered details of where he had gone or what he had done. Luke had known intellectually that only Jacen could have dispatched the boy. But now, at last, Luke had proof, a corroborating witness, and the confirmation hit him harder than he would have expected.

This girl had helped effect the plan-had endangered Ben. All out of a misguided loyalty to a very bad man.

Luke stared at her again. He tried to remain impassive, but she apparently saw something in his expression and took an involuntary half step backward.

Luke didn’t bother trying to keep anger from his voice. “How were you found out?”

“She wasn’t. She came forward.” Cilghal put a comforting hand on Seha’s shoulder.

“When we received word about the massacre on Ossus.” Seha blinked, and tears came. “I don’t know how he could do that, send in a crazy man to bargain with the younglings’ lives, to torture Kam Solusar and Tionne and kill all those others.” Her tears flowed freely now, but she ignored them. “I betrayed the Order. … but not like that. I’m not going to do that.”

“You’re no Jedi.” Corran’s voice was harsh. “Your emotions are all over the map. Even an apprentice knows that. So we can’t trust you as a Jedi, we can’t trust you to be a calm, collected operative, and now you’ve left the most dangerous man in the galaxy disappointed in youHe gestured at Luke. “Plus, you’ve volunteered to go on a mission to capture the second-most dangerous man, when all you had to do to retain everyone’s trust was keep your mouth shut.”

Seha glared at him. “Trust isn’t worth anything when it’s built on lies. Maybe I’m the stupidest girl you’ve ever met, but even I can figure that out.”

No one answered her immediately. Even Corran’s expression was more evaluative than angry, and Luke knew, both from experience and from what he felt through the Force, that Corran had been goading the girl professionally, his own display of emotion simulated.

Finally Cilghal broke the silence. “In fairness, after the Order broke ranks with Jacen and the Alliance at Kuat, when the Guard moved against the Temple to seize it, Seha helped destroy the computers. She carried out a complete set of records and led two Jedi Knights to safety through the undercity.”

Luke cleared his throat to catch Seha’s attention. “You can stay in the Order without going on this mission.”

A brief, uncertain smile flashed across Seha’s lips. “I can?”

“You can. You should. Jacen is … extraordinarily dangerous. If he sees you, he might devote only a single, negligent attack to you. Such an attack would distract a Jedi Master, hurt a Jedi Knight… . and kill you.”

She swallowed. “Does anyone in the Order know the undercity approaches to Jacen’s offices?”

“Zekk, perhaps.”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t know it since the Vongforming. Since the rebuilding after the war. I’d better stay with the mission.”

“And keep your head down.”

“And keep my head down.”

Luke took a long breath, then looked around. “Will you all excuse me? Kyp, please escort Seha downstairs, then return to me in a few minutes.”

They all bowed and, grave-faced, withdrew, descending via the lift plate by which Seha had arrived.

Alone, Luke stood away from the ill-balanced tool rack, closing his eyes, immersing himself in the Force … looking for guidance.

His heart should have been the only guide he needed, with the Force offering the occasional nudge when things were unclear. But his heart had been burned beyond recognition when Mara had died, and what was left was in pieces, each piece suggesting a different course of action. Throw everything into the effort against Jacen. Hunt down Alema Rar and make her pay for killing Mara. The rot is too deep; the Jedi Order should withdraw and let the warring states fight their way to a finish; only then can rebuilding begin. This kill is mine. This kill is mine.

And the Force was silent. It seemed like forever since it had shown him any guidance about the bigger picture. All it offered him these days was guidance for immediate problems, the here and now. It had been that way since-for how long? Since Mara’s death at least. It could have begun before then.

Perhaps he could no longer read the Force. Perhaps it chose not to speak to him anymore.

And if that was true, he could not remain the Grand Master of the Order. He would lead the Jedi into ruin.